Child Seat Terminology

Have you ever wondered which seat your child actually needed, what the terminology really means? This page has been set out to help clear the confusion around child seats

Infant Carrier - Child Seat - Booster Seat - Booster Cushion

Infant Carrier

Group 0 and 0+: For children upto 13kgs (approx age birth to nine-to-12 months)

For very young children, this is the safest type of restraint available. A baby seat is rearward facing, and can be fitted to front or rear seats by using the adult seat belt or by ISOFIX fittings as per the manufacturers instructions.

A rearward facing child seat should never be fitted in a seat with an active frontal airbag, if fitted to a seat with an airbag the airbag should be disabled. (Consult your vehicles user manual for instructions on this procedure). An active airbag in an accident could cause a serious or fatal injury in the event of an accident.

Note: Carrycots with restraint straps do not provide the same level of protection of a purpose built baby seat.

Child Seat

Group 1: For children 9kbs to 19kgs (approx nine months to four years).

A child seat is a separate seat secured by a normal seat belt or ISOFIX system attachment points. The child is then restrained into the seat by the seats own harness, which has been designed specifically to fit a child.

A good child seat should include a 'crotch strap', this will prevent a child from sliding forward out of the seat in the event of an accident.

Booster Seat

Group 2: For childern 15kgs and up (from approx four years).

Designed to put a child in the right position to use a full adult seat belt. Many booster seats are designed to be used where only an adult lap and diagonal belt is fitted, however some are designed for use where only a lap belt is fitted.

A booster seat is like a booster cushion, except it has a back, and may have protection for a child's head in the case of a side impact as with the Recaro Start seen on the left.

Booster Cushion

Group 3: For Children from 22kgs (from approx six years)

Unlike the booster seat the booster cushion is designed to be used only with the adult seat belt and is designed to raise a child into a comfortable position where an adult belt gives proper support in the correct places.

Adult belts are designed to work best for adults over 150cms (4ft 11ins) or taller. They are not designed for children. Although a booster cushion might be unpopular with your child it will elevate them to the correct position for the maximum protection from an adult belt.

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